QUEENING A PAWN

One of the most important aspects of chess that you have to learn is how to play the end-game. That is, when there are only a few pieces left on the board. You should already know how to play some simple end-games: King and Queen against King and King and Rook against King. If not, you'll find them in MOVE ONE. In this book we'll look at some endings with a smaller material advantage and see how they can be won.

Between two strong players an advantage of just one pawn is often enough to win the game. If you look at games played between Grandmasters you will see that they often resign the game when they are only one pawn down. This often looks strange. Why don't they play on? How would their opponents win?

First, take a look at Diagram 51, which you should recognise from the previous chapter. Have you worked out what's happening in this position? Can White queen his pawn or is it a draw? What was your answer when you looked at this position after the last lesson?

XABCDEFGH
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xabcdefghy
Diagram 51

The correct answer is: it depends whose move it is. If it's White's move he has two choices. He can continue to defend his pawn with Kd6-e6, which is stalemate, so, a draw. Or he can move his King away from the pawn, when Black will take it. Again a draw. But if it's Black to play something different happens. he only has one possible move: Ke8-f7. Then White will play Kd6-d7 and because he is now controlling the queening square, e8, he'll get a new Queen next move. And you know how to win with a King and a Queen, don't you? This position is VERY IMPORTANT. Look at it again and make sure you understand it.

Did you notice something strange about that position? In most chess positions you'd prefer it to be your move. In some positions, though, usually in endings, it's better NOT to have the move. There's a special word for this sort of position: a funny looking German word. ZUGZWANG. A position where you would rather pass than make a move. And of course you're not allowed to pass in chess!
If we move all the pieces back one square, we reach the position in Diagram 52. What happens now? In this position it doesn't matter whose move it is. If it's White's move he can only play Kd5-e5, which doesn't affect the result. So we'll assume it's Black's move. What would you play next for Black? Can you draw or will White queen his pawn? THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN CHESS SO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.

XABCDEFGH
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xabcdefghy
Diagram 52
Black has four moves in this position. His King can go to f6, d8, e8 or f8. Let's look first at Ke7-f6. White replies Kd5-d6. He's now got round the side of his pawn, which is where he wants to be. His next three moves will be Kd6-d7, e6-e7 and e7-e8=Q, and there's nothing Black can do to stop him. Now let's try Ke7-d8. White again plays Kd5-d6. Black goes Kd8-e8. White pushes his pawn: e6-e7. We now have the position in Diagram 51 with BLACK to move. You'll remember that White wins. If you try Ke7-f8 instead on your first move the same thing will happen. Now go back to the diagram and play Ke7-e8. White again plays Kd5-d6. Stop again and decide on your next move. Will it be Ke8-d8 or Ke8-f8?

If the King goes to d8. White plays e6-e7+, the Black King returns to e8 and we reach the position from Diagram 51 with WHITE to play. You remember the result? A draw. But Ke8-f8 is not the same thing. Now White plays, not e6-e7+ with a draw, but Kd6-d7 when the Pawn will queen. So, returning to the position in Diagram 52, Black's only move to draw is Ke7-e8. IF YOUR OPPONENT HAS A PAWN ON THE SIXTH RANK BLOCKED BY YOUR KING AND IT IS YOUR MOVE, YOUR KING MUST GO BACK TO THE QUEENING SQUARE. This is very important! Remember it!

Next, we look at Diagram 53, with the White King in front of the pawn. What did you make of this position? Is White winning or is it a draw? Does it matter whose move it is?

XABCDEFGHY
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xabcdefghy
Diagram 53

Well' let's try White to move first. 1. Ke6-d6 Ke8-e8 2. e5-e6 Kd8-e8 3. e6-e7 and we've reached Diagram 51 with BLACK to move. You know what the result is. A win for White. What about Black to move first? Go back to Diagram 53 and start again. 1... Ke8-d8 2. Ke6-f7 (controlling the queening square) 2... Kd8-d7 3. e5-e6+ and in two moves time White's Pawn will become a Queen. So, Diagram 53 is a win whoever is to move.

Now we'll move the pieces back one square again, giving Diagram 54. Let's see if it makes any difference. If you haven't done so already, see if you can work out what's going on before you look at the answer.

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-mk-+-'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-mK-+-%
4-+-+P+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Diagram 54
Suppose first it's White's move. We'll play 1. Ke5-d5 Ke7-d7 (the only good move - can you work out why?) 2. e4-e5 Kd7-e7 3. e5-e6 and we've reached the position in Diagram 52 with Black to play. Do you remember what Black's next move is? That's right. Ke7-e8 is the only move to draw. Now try again with Black moving first in Diagram 54. 1... Ke7-d7 2. Ke5-f6 (going round the side again) 2... Kd7-d6 3. e4-e5+ Kd6-d7 4. Kf6-f7 (controlling the queening square) and White will get a new Queen. So Diagram 54 is a draw with White to move, a win for White with Black to move. Another ZUGZWANG position.

This position also shows you another important idea in endings. You will see that the two Kings stand two squares apart. When this happens we say that the player who does not have the move has THE OPPOSITION. This is usually an advantage. What it means is that if your opponent moves his King he has to give way and let you through. So, with Black to move he has to move his King to one side. This allows White's King to come round the other side. But if White moves first, whichever way he goes the Black King follows him and he can never get through. Have another look at Diagram 54 with White to move. I. Ke5-d5 and Black keeps the opposition with Ke7-d7. but Ke8-f7 instead would be a mistake because of Kd5-d6, and White gets round the side again. Likewise, if White tries 1. Ke5-f5, Black must reply with Ke7-f7 rather than Ke7-d7.

In all the positions you've seen so far in this chapter the result will be the same if the pawn is on any file except the a or h-files. Rook's Pawns (a or h-pawns) are much more difficult to win with. In fact, all the positions in Diagrams 51-54 would be drawn with a Rook's Pawn.

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-mk(
7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-mK&
5+-+-+-+P%
4-+-+-+-+$
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2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Diagram 55
For example, let's move Diagram 53 (which is always a win for White) over to the side of the board. This gives us Diagram 55. White to play: 1. Kh6-g6 Kh8-g8 2. h5-h6 Kg8-h8 3. h6-h7 and it's stalemate. With Black to play very much the same thing happens.

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+k+K'
6-+-+-+-zP&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Diagram 56

Even in Diagram 56, with White's King very favourably placed, it's still a draw. With White to play we have 1. Kh7-h8 Kf7-f8 2. h6-h7 and it's White who is stalemated. Or with Black to play: 1... Kf7-f8 and White can choose between Kh7-h8 when he will be stalemated or Kh7-g6 when Black will be stalemated. But Black must be a bit careful here. 1... Kf7-f6 would be a mistake. White plays 2. Kh7-g8 which forces his pawn through.

Finally, there are some positions where the enemy King cannot catch the pawn. Look at Diagram 57.

XABCDEFGH
8-+-+-+-mK(
7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3zP-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+k+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Diagram 57

Can the Black King catch White's pawn? The easy way to work this out is to draw a square on the board from White's Pawn to the queening square. If the Black King can move into the square he can catch the pawn. So, Black, to play, could draw with Kg2-f3 stopping the Pawn by marching along the diagonal to a8. But if it was White's move he could push his pawn through to queen and Black's King would never quite catch up. Play it out for yourself and see what happens.

One final thought. You've seen how even a very simple position with only two Kings and a Pawn can be quite difficult to get right. Imagine how much more difficult a position with lots of pieces on the board can be!
QUIZ

For the first part of your quiz in this section you have to play the position in Diagram 58 against your chess teacher, or, if you're learning at home, your computer or training partner, and show that you know how to win. It's White to move, and he can always win with best play. The idea is first of all to get in front of your pawn. Then move round to the side so that you control the queening square and shepherd your pawn through to queen.

XABCDEFGH
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7+-+-+-+-'
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4-+-+-+-+$
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1+-+-mK-+-!
xabcdefghy
Diagram 58
White to move

Here's one way to do it. Play this through to make sure you understand it.

1. Ke1-d2 Ke8-d7
2. Kd2-e3

White moves in front of his pawn.

2... Kd7-d6
3. Ke3-e4 Kd6-e6
4. e2-e3!

The key move. White takes the OPPOSITION and forces Black to give way.

4... Ke6-f6
5. Ke4-d5

White moves round to the side of the pawn.

5... Kf6-e7
6. Kd5-e5 Ke7-d7
7. Ke5-f6 Kd7-e8
8. e3-e4 Ke8-f8
9. e4-e5 Kf8-e8
10. Kf6-e6!

And White has reached Diagram 53 with Black to move, which is a win for White. But 10. e5-e6 would only draw. So you always have to be very careful in this ending. Try to work out exactly what's happening in each position before you move.

For the second part of the quiz we move the pawn to e3, giving Diagram 59. This time you take Black against your teacher. White moves first and Black has to draw.

XABCDEFGHY
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xabcdefghy
Diagram 59
White to move
Here's how you might start.

1. Ke1-e2 Ke8-d7
2. Ke2-d3

In this position you have to be VERY CAREFUL. Turn back to Diagram 54, which, you'll remember, was a draw with White to play and a win for White with Black to play. If you move all the pieces back one square this still applies. So Black must make sure that when the White King goes to e4 he can reply by moving his King to e6. Likewise, if the White King goes to d4 Black must move his King to d6. You can see that 2... Kd7-e6 would be a mistake because White would take the OPPOSITION with Kd3-e4 and win. Kd7-d6 would also be a mistake. White would reply with Kd3-d4, again taking the OPPOSITION. The Black King must stay within reach of both e6 and d6 to draw. The only way to do this is to play...

2... Kd7-e7!

Now he can answer Kd3-e4 with Ke7-e6 and Kd3-d4 with Ke7-d6. In both cases Black takes the OPPOSITION and draws.

The third part of your test on this Chapter is a mini-quiz on King and Pawn against King. The pass mark is four out of five.

Q1.
XABCDEFGH
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xabcdefgh
White to play.
What is his best move?
Q2.
XABCDEFGH
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3+-zpk+-+-#
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xabcdefgh
White to play.
What is his best move?
Q3.
XABCDEFGH
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White to play.
What is his best move?
Q4.
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White to play.
What is his best move?
Q5.
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Black (Bobby Fischer) to play.
What is his best move?

ACTIVITIES

In this book we're looking mainly at those openings starting 1. e2-e4 e7-e5. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, they are easier to understand and play well than other openings. Secondly, they usually lead to open games which provide you with more opportunities to reach exciting positions.

If you're playing in tournaments and matches, though, you'll probably meet players who play different openings. You don't need to know too much about these yet but if you have some idea what to do against them you'll avoid running into trouble.

In this section we'll look at Black's other possible replies to e4. A later section will cover White's other possible first moves.

1. Sicilian Defence: 1. e2-e4 c7-c5

Very popular in junior chess as well as master chess. Black plans a counter-attack on the Queen-side. One plan you might try is 2. c2-c3, with the idea of following up with d2-d4. If your opponent replies Ng8-f6, play e4-e5, then d2-d4. If he plays d7-d5, play e4xd5, then d2-d4. You could also have a go at springing the trap in Chapter 3.

2. French Defence: 1. e2-e4 e7-e6

Another opening often played in junior tournaments. Black lets White form a pawn centre with d2-d4 and then attacks it with d7-d5. Your simplest plan is to play the Exchange Variation, which goes 1. e2-e4 e7-e6 2. d2-d4 d7-d5 3. e4xd5 e6xd5 followed by developing with Bf1-d3, Ng1-f3, Nb1-c3 or Nb1-d2, Bc1-g5 or Bc1-f4 and Rf1-e1.

3. Caro-Kann Defence: 1. e2-e4 c7-c6

A similar idea to the French Defence. Again the safest plan is 1. e2-e4 c7-c6 2. d2-d4 d7-d5 3. e4xd5 c6xd5 followed by quick development.

4. Pirc Defence: 1. e2-e4 d7-d6 2. d2-d4 Ng8-f6
Modern Defence: 1. e2-e4 g7-g6 2. d2-d4 Bf8-g7

Two openings which often lead to the same position. In the Pirc Defence Black usually continues with g7-g6 and Bf8-g7 on moves 3 and 4. Simple development should give you a reasonable game as long as you watch out for attacks on your centre pawns.

5. Alekhine's Defence: 1. e2-e4 Ng8-f6

This gives you the chance to chase the Knight round the board with 2. e4-e5. Or you could play 2. Nb1-c3 when 2... e7-e5 gives you the Vienna Game which you'll meet in Chapter 16.

6. Centre Counter Defence: 1. e2-e4 d7-d5

Also called the Scandinavian Defence. Your best move is 2. e3xd5. If then 2... Qd8xd5 (Ng8-f6 is also possible) you can gain time by attacking the Queen with Nb1-c3.

7. Nimzowitsch Defence: 1. e2-e4 Nb8-c6

There's nothing wrong with 2. d2-d4 but if you play 2. Ng1-f3 Black may reply with 2... e7-e5 when you're back on familiar territory.

8. St George's Defence: 1. e2-e4 a7-a6

Used by former English Board 1 Tony Miles to beat Anatoly Karpov when he was World Champion. It's not quite as bad as it looks. Black plans b7-b5 and Bc8-b7. One word of advice: develop your Queen's Knight on d2 rather than c3 where it can be attacked by b5-b4.

9. Owen's Defence: 1. e2-e4 b7-b6

Named after a 19th century English clergyman. It's not terribly frightening: simple development should give you a good position. As with the previous opening, Black's trying to attack your e-pawn with a Bishop on b7, so don't forget to defend it.
Note that whenever Black plays a first move that neither controls d4 with a pawn nor attacks e4, the usual reply is d2-d4, to put a second pawn in the centre of the board.

Masters of the Universe 4

Wilhelm Steinitz remained World Champion until 1894, when he lost a match against a 25 year old German called Emanuel Lasker. When young Emanuel was 11 years old he was taken ill with measles. While he was confined to bed his older brother taught him chess. In those days there was no junior chess, so it was not until he went to University that he played in his first tournament. Within only a few years he had become one of the strongest players in the world. Here's a game from one of his first tournaments.

White: Emanuel Lasker Black: Johann Bauer
Amsterdam, 1899
Opening: Bird's Opening

1. f2-f4

This is Bird's Opening, named after an English master who was active during the second half of the 19th century.

1... d7-d5
2. e2-e3 Ng8-f6
3. b2-b3 e7-e6
4. Bc1-b2 Bf8-e7
5. Bf1-d3 b7-b6
6. Nb1-c3 Bc8-b7
7. Ng1-f3 Nb8-d7
8. 0-0 0-0
9. Nc3-e2 c7-c5
10. Ne2-g3 Qd8-c7

White's unusual opening has led to a position where all his Minor Pieces (Bishops and Knights) are well placed for an attack on the enemy King.

11. Nf3-e5 Nd7xe5
12. Bb2xe5 Qc7-c6
13. Qd1-e2 a7-a6?
14. Ng3-h5 Nf6xh5 (Diagram 60)

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8r+-+-trk+(
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6pzpq+p+-+&
5+-zppvL-+n%
4-+-+-zP-+$
3+P+LzP-+-#
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1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 60
White to move

15. Bd3xh7+!!

Lasker's plan is to sacrifice his Bishops for Black's g and h-pawns, and them play for a Queen and Rook mate.

15... Kg8xh7
16. Qe2xh5+ Kh7-g8
17. Be5xg7!! Kg8xg7
18. Qh5-g4+ Kg7-h7
19. Rf1-f3

White airlifts the Rook to h3 via f3. Black has to give up his Queen to prevent mate.

19... e6-e5
20. Rf3-h3+ Qc6-h6
21. Rh3xh6+ Kh7xh6 (Diagram 61)

It looks as if Black's got enough pieces for his Queen. But now comes a QUEEN FORK attacking the undefended Bishops Lasker must have foreseen this back on move 15.

XABCDEFGH
8r+-+-tr-+(
7+l+-vlp+-'
6pzp-+-+-mk&
5+-zppzp-+-%
4-+-+-zPQ+$
3+P+-zP-+-#
2P+PzP-+PzP"
1tR-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 60
White to move

22. Qg4-d7 Be7-f6
23. Qd7xb7 Kh6-g7
24. Ra1-f1 Ra8-b8
25. Qb7-d7 Rf8-d8
26. Qd7-g4+ Kg7-f8
27. f4xe5 Bf6-g7
28. e5-e6 Rb8-b7
29. Qg4-g6

EXPLOITING THE PIN!

29... f7-f6
30. Rf1xf6+ Bg7xf6
31. Qg6xf6+ Kf8-e8
32. Qf6-h8+ Ke8-e7
33. Qh8-g7+ (SKEWER!)

Black resigns

Lasker held the world title until 1921, and even in his late sixties was still a very tough opponent. He was also, like many chess players, a mathematician and several times gave up chess to work on maths and philosophy.
When he was World Champion Lasker had many rivals. One was Harry Pillsbury, a brilliant American against whom he played several famous games. Pillsbury suffered from ill-health and sadly died young. Another rival was a German doctor, Siegbert Tarrasch, also a famous chess writer who taught in his books the importance of keeping your pieces actively placed. He challenged Lasker for the World Championship in 1908 but was then past his best and was well beaten. Carl Schlechter, from Vienna, came very close to beating Lasker in a match in 1910. Only a win in a desperately close and thrilling final game saved the day for the champion. Then there was Akiba Rubinstein, who never played for the World Championship but won several strong tournaments in the years before the First World War. Rubinstein was famous for his endgame play, but also won many brilliancy prizes for games such as this.

White: Gersz Rotlevi Black: Akiba Rubinstein
Lodz, 1907
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. Ng1-f3 e7-e6
3. e2-e3 c7-c5
4. c2-c4 Nb8-c6
5. Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6

During most of the 19th century nearly all games started with 1. e2-e4 e7-e5. Towards the end of the century the Queen's Gambit became a very popular opening for White. This is one of the standard positions. White's next move is not best. Both players should wait until their opponent has moved his King's Bishop before capturing the c-pawn with the d-pawn. You'll see why as the game goes on.

6. d4xc5? Bf8xc5
7. a2-a3 a7-a6
8. b2-b4 Bc5-d6

Setting a trap. If White thinks he can win a pawn here he gets a nasty surprise: 9. c4xd5 e6xd5 10. Nc3xd5? Nf6xd5 11. Qd1xd5?? Bd6xb4+ (AMBUSH!) winning the Queen.

9. Bc1-b2 0-0
10. Qd1-d2? Qd8-e7

It's still dangerous for White to win a pawn, because he'll find himself behind in development with his King stuck in the centre. For instance, 11. c4xd5 e6xd5 12. Nc3xd5 Nf6xd5 13. Qd2xd5 Bc8-e6 14. Qd5-d1 Nc6xb4! 15. a3xb4 Bd6xb4+ 16. Nf3-d2 Rf8-d8 17. Bb2-c1 Ra8-c8, with Rc8xc1 and Bb4xd2+ to follow.

11. Bf1-d3 d5xc4

Now is the right time to capture, after White's moved his Bishop.

12. Bd3xc4 b7-b5
13. Bc4-d3 Rf8-d8
14. Qd2-e2 Bc8-b7

15. 0-0 (Diagram 62)

XXABCDEFGH
8r+-tr-+k+(
7+l+-wqpzpp'
6p+nvlpsn-+&
5+p+-+-+-%
4-zP-+-+-+$
3zP-sNLzPN+-#
2-vL-+QzPPzP"
1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 62
Black to move

The position's almost symmetrical, except for Black's Rook on d8. And it's his move, not White's. Black has gained two moves in the opening. One because of White's 6th move, and another because the White Queen took two moves to reach e2. So now it's time to start the attack.

15... Nc6-e5

This threatens 16... Ne5xd3 17. Qe2xd3 Bd6xh2+ (AMBUSH!), winning the Queen.

16. Nf3xe5 Bd6xe5
17. f2-f4 Be5-c7
18. e3-e4 Ra8-c8

Bringing up the reserves.

19. e4-e5?

Leaving his King exposed to a withering attack along the diagonals.

19... Bc7-b6+
20. Kg1-h1 Nf6-g4 (DECOY!)
21. Bd3-e4 Qe7-h4
22. g2-g3 (Diagram 63)
XABCDEFGH
8-+rtr-+k+(
7+l+-+pzpp'
6pvl-+p+-+&
5+p+-zP-+-%
4-zP-+LzPnwq$
3zP-sN-+-zP-#
2-vL-+Q+-zP"
1tR-+-+R+K!
xabcdefgh
Diagram 63
Black to move

22... Rc8xc3!!

EXTERMINATE! 23. Bb2xc3 would be just what Black wanted: 23... Bb7xe4+ (SURRENDER!) and mates on h2. White's best defence is 23. Be4xb7, but Black is still winning after Rc3xg3 (EXPLOITING THE PIN!). Instead he decides to take the Queen.

23. g3xh4 Rd8-d2!!

DECOY! White has a choice of four piece captures. If he takes on b7 Black takes the Queen, Rd2xe2, and the threat of Re2xh2# doesn't give White time to capture anything else. Qe2xg4 and Bb2xc3 both allow Bb7xe4+, so he removes the unwelcome visitor on d2.

24. Qe2xd2 Bb7xe4+

EXTERMINATE! DESTROY!

25. Qd2-g2 Rc3-h3

EXPLOITING THE PIN!
White resigns. He can only delay the mate on h2: 26. Bb2xd4 Bb6xd4 27. Rf1-f2 Bd4xf2 and, whatever White does next. Black plays Rh3xh2# (again EXPLOITING THE PIN!)
LESSONS FROM CHAPTER 4

1. IF YOUR OPPONENT HAS A PAWN ON THE SIXTH RANK BLOCKED BY YOUR KING AND IT IS YOUR MOVE, YOUR KING MUST GO BACK TO THE QUEENING SQUARE.

2. IF YOUR OPPONENT HAS NO OTHER MOVES AND HIS KING IS TWO SQUARES AWAY FROM YOURS, HE WILL HAVE TO MOVE HIS KING AWAY AND LET YOUR KING IN. YOU CAN USE THIS IDEA IN VERY MANY ENDINGS.

3. WITH KING AND PAWN AGAINST KING, GET YOUR KING IN FRONT OF, NOT BEHIND YOUR PAWN.

4. A ROOK'S PAWN OFTEN LEADS TO DRAWS IN POSITIONS WHERE ANOTHER PAWN WOULD WIN.